Aire Serv vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
Aire Serv vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: Aire Serv costs $114K to $272K to open; Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain costs $15K to $346K. Aire Serv has 93 units, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has 35. SBA loan history: Aire Serv = 101 loans (7.9% default); Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain = 15 loans (6.7% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Aire Serv vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($15K vs $114K for Aire Serv), a 642% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Aire Serv versus $60K for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Aire Serv has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Aire Serv and 6% for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, giving Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Aire Serv operates 93 units to Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain's 35, roughly 3× the system size. Aire Serv has been operating 34 years (founded 1992) versus 13 for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain (founded 2013), a 21-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Aire Serv has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 101 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.9% for Aire Serv and 6.7% for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 84 (Excellent) for Aire Serv and 75 (Strong) for Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, giving Aire Serv the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 84/100 | 75/100 |
Health Tier | Excellent | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Surging | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 101 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.9% | 6.7% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $114K to $272K | $15K to $346K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $50K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 93 | 35 |
Franchised Units | 93 | 35 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1992 | 2013 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | 2014 |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | 12 yrs |
Headquarters | Waco, TX | Birmingham, AL |
Category | Plumbing, Heating, | Plumbing, Heating, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Aire Serv or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Aire Serv: $114K starting · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: $15K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Aire Serv
Aire Serv: 101 SBA loans · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
Aire Serv: 7.9% · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 6.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Aire Serv: 93 units · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 35 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain
Aire Serv: 7% · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 6%
More lender financing options
Aire Serv
Aire Serv: 24 unique lenders · Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: 9 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Aire Serv vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Aire Serv and Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $15K to $346K.
Aire Serv has 101 SBA loans on record and Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain has 15. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Both brands have an established underwriting path, though the lender that fits a specific deal still depends on its size, location and the buyer.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Aire Serv vs Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Aire Serv or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
How much does a Aire Serv franchise cost compared to Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
Can I finance Aire Serv or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Aire Serv or Bluefrog Plumbing + Drain?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman